The Overlooked Power of Nutrition

Most physicians have an extremely limited understanding of nutrition. Medical training often does not require a dedicated course in nutritional science, resulting in a significant knowledge gap about how diet and nutrients impact health.

Take broccoli, for example. It contains compounds that support glutamine production in the brain, likely by modulating gut bacteria—benefits that can begin within days of consumption. Eating broccoli whole, with its fiber intact, may provide even greater benefits than extracts alone.

Glutamine is a vital amino acid stored predominantly in muscle tissue, making up about 50% of the body’s free amino acid reserves. This isn't coincidental—glutamine plays a critical role in virtually every cellular process, from energy production to detoxification and tissue repair. Once glutamine levels are replenished, muscle soreness tends to diminish—unless you’re exercising at extreme intensities.

Interestingly, glutamine is most effective when taken after a protein-rich meal—about 40 minutes after a shake or an hour after a complex meal. Bodybuilders often consume 10–20 grams daily, alongside high protein intake, to aid muscle recovery and reduce soreness.

You don’t need to take it every day—just during periods of physical recovery, stress, illness, or intense workouts. Remarkably, glutamine even reduces the intoxicating effects of alcohol. A severe hangover may signal that your liver lacked enough glutamine to metabolize alcohol, leading to cellular damage and oxidative stress. For instance, H. pylori causes ulcers primarily when glutamine levels are depleted.

Low glutamine can also be a red flag for more serious issues—shingles, muscle soreness, delayed healing, and immune exhaustion. These symptoms may precede conditions like diabetes, schizophrenia, or other neurological disorders. Why? Because the brain relies heavily on balanced nutrient chemistry, neurotransmitter availability, and a steady supply of cellular energy.

Vitamin D is another key nutrient. When levels drop, the immune system compensates by reallocating resources—sometimes at the cost of testosterone production and muscle integrity. Low vitamin D can lead to immune dysfunction, fatigue, and increased disease risk.

Unfortunately, doctors receive minimal training in these areas. For example, while exploring COVID-19’s impact, I found selenium deficiency was the only nutrient deficiency consistently matching the profound exhaustion experienced by some patients. The virus appears to bind selenium, disrupting glutathione production—a vital antioxidant—and triggering an energy shutdown in cells. This cascade damages organs like the kidneys and impairs magnesium and calcium regulation.

A simple fix? Two Brazil nuts a day. They provide selenium, which also protects against mercury toxicity—especially relevant if you eat a lot of fish.

Try asking a typical physician: What causes sensory hypersensitivity in autism or why older adults struggle to follow conversations in noisy environments? These issues often stem from the same nutrient: one that's blocked by gut biofilms.

Consider glutamine again. After a decade or more of immune stress, the body’s reserves deplete, often just before a diabetic crisis sets in. The body cannibalizes muscle to extract amino acids, but glutamine, the most abundant, is preserved longest—until it runs out. When it does, ketoacidosis and full-blown diabetes can follow.

Similarly, selenium is so essential for immune and cellular energy regulation that the COVID-19 spike protein specifically binds to it. Without selenium, the body can’t manage glutathione levels, exposing cells to mitochondrial DNA damage.

And why is selenium deficiency linked to mercury toxicity? Selenium binds mercury, preventing accumulation and poisoning. Yet, this isn’t common knowledge—even among sushi lovers.

Physicians should understand these relationships. Nutrition determines whether the body thrives or deteriorates. It’s central to preventing disease, managing inflammation, and supporting recovery.

Medical textbooks need a rewrite—from a nutrient-dependent perspective. This shift could revolutionize medicine.

For example, choline, particularly in the form of Alpha-GPC, is essential for brain development and neurotransmitter balance. Low choline during pregnancy is linked to ADHD and lower IQ in offspring. Long-term deficiency can cause neuronal over-excitation, possibly contributing to conditions like autism, Parkinson’s, and dementia.

Though not all of this is yet "hard science," the correlations are striking. Nutrient deficiencies are often pathogen-specific, biofilm-specific, or even location-specific within the gut. I’ve been researching a bacterial pathogen linked to autism. When in biofilm form, it suppresses immune signaling and alters cognitive function—effectively hijacking brain chemistry.

In pre-diabetic patients, blood profiles show disproportionate depletion of muscle amino acids—except glutamine. In rat models, glutamine is burned faster as they progress toward diabetes.

At a cellular level, we’re just trillions of tiny nutrient-dependent "bags." If we don’t move, nutrients don’t circulate effectively. Sedentary aging is essentially nutrient starvation at the cellular level.

Supplemental glutamine—1.2g daily—can heal over 70% of ulcers in six weeks, and over 90% by eight weeks. Research in HIV/AIDS patients showed 15g daily helped reverse severe muscle wasting and improve survival.

Glutamine begins absorption within 15 minutes and boosts cellular activity for about 45 minutes. If unused during this window, the body may convert it into fat or other cell types based on need.

Alcohol dramatically reduces glutamine availability, further accelerating aging. Conversely, boosting glutamine levels buffers this damage and enhances surgical recovery.

Hospital studies show glutamine-enriched IV drips reduce post-surgical complications and preserve lean body mass—evidence that cellular nutrient support improves outcomes.

Lastly, choline (Alpha-GPC) enhances calm and focus. If supplementation improves cognition, your body likely needs it. Chronic deficiency leads to poor neural regulation and damage from excessive stimulation. This mechanism is implicated in hearing loss, neuronal fatigue, and degeneration of dopamine-producing cells.

In summary, we’re nutrient-driven systems. We age, heal, and think based on cellular access to key nutrients. Recognizing this is not only vital—it may be the foundation for the next century of medical breakthroughs.